February by Lisa Moore has won CANADA READS 2013: TURF WARS. Moore’s book was championed for the Atlantic Provinces by comedian Trent McClellan and was chosen by the five celebrity panelists as the book for Canadians to read in 2013.

After four impassioned days of debates in front of live audiences, February survived the final vote today to be crowned this year’s winner. The runner-up was Two Solitudes by Hugh MacLennan. The debates aired on CBC Radio and TV, documentary, Sirius 159 and online at CBC Books.

February is based on a real event, the sinking of the Ocean Ranger off the coast of Newfoundland on Valentine’s Day, 31 years ago. St. John’s author Lisa Moore’s novel is a haunting story about a woman whose husband was one of the 84 men who died that night.

“The panelists began by representing their region, but together chose a book that will speak to all of Canada,” said Jian Ghomeshi, host of CANADA READS and CBC’s Q. “It’s exciting that so many people will be reading Lisa Moore’s novel about a maritime tragedy all Canadians should know about. It’s both a moving meditation on love and loss and an indictment of how we fuel our oil-driven economy.”

The books voted off earlier this week, in order of elimination, were:

The Age of Hope by David Bergen, defended by broadcaster Ron MacLean

Away by Jane Urquhart, defended by historian Charlotte Gray

Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, defended by athlete Carol Huynh

Jian Ghomeshi will interview Lisa Moore and her book’s celebrity defender, Trent McClellan, on Q on Friday, February 15 on CBC Radio One at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. (10:30 NT). The interview will also be posted on CBC Books.

On February 16, there will be a one-hour special recapping the CANADA READS debates on CBC-TV at 12 p.m. (12:30 NT), as well as a one-hour highlights show airing on CBC Radio One at 4 p.m. (4:30 NT) and on Sirius 159 at 2 p.m. ET (encore on February 17 at 2 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET).

February is published by House of Anansi, which will make a donation to this year’s literacy partner, Frontier College’s Aboriginal Literacy Program.

The Canada Reads conversation continues on Twitter - #CanadaReads2013. Go to cbc.ca/books for this year’s videos, post-show debriefs, panelist confessionals and more on all five books.

CANADA READS, CBC’s annual battle of the books, airs on all CBC platforms: online at CBC Books, on CBC Radio One, documentary, CBC-TV and Sirius 159.

For hi-res photos and biographies of the panelists and authors, please click here: http://cbc.sh/W1FnXYV

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